Childs Glacer - Aug 9, 2014

Oh this was a fun adventure!  The Copper River Highway was built along the railroad tracks that used to run up to the Kennecott Copper Mine near McCarthy, Alaska.  In 1964, the big earthquake damaged the road and the million dollar bridge.  But you could still drive 'out the road' to Child's Glacier 52 miles from Cordova.  Now at 36 mile, the river changed course and washed out a major portion of road between two bridges.  So the road is closed.   The only way to get out to Childs Glacier is to find another way across the river. 

There is an airboat you can hire to take you across.  They also have big passenger vehicles on the far side so you can drive the rest of the way out.  When Auntie Beth and Nick came down to visit, Grandma arranged for us all to go out to the glacier.  It was Lincoln's first time to the glacier and the first time for Lincoln and Mommy in an Airboat.

Crater Lake - Aug 2, 2104

Photos are not in order, but they're all from the same adventure, so good enough.  We had a day off with James and Grandma, so we decided to take the morning and hike to Crater Lake.  It took all day!

 

Grandma, Jessi, Lincoln and James - hiking selfie!

Huge salmonberries!  So yummy!  Lincoln ate them all up.  And I think we startled a bear in a sunny berry patch toward the top.  Glad he decided to leave the trail to us.

Lincoln's ready to hike - the backpack lasted for less than a quarter mile.  Lincoln hiked for awhile, but when we stopped to admire the view, he asked to get in the kid-pack.

James brought along his swim trunks - Lincoln just streaked.

Family photo at the top - Lincoln (2 1/2, James, Jessi 6 months pregnant)

Nap time caught up with Lincoln as we started our hike back down.

 

James - diving into Crater Lake. Brrrrr!  Photo credit : Grandma McCalvy

Swimming around the point to the rocky beach.

The little rocky beach - the tiny black rocks really do get warm in the sunshine.  Thankfully.

James is drying off, Lincoln is just enjoying the warm rocks.

Close-up family photo.

Linc and Grandma at the parking lot - ready to go on the hike.  I told you the pictures were out of order!

Idaho Visitors! - July 30-Aug 1, 2014

Uncle Gord and Aunt Gaylynne did an epic Alaska Adventure. Lucky for us, they included Cordova in their itinerary. We hiked the ski hill, looked for geocaches, hiked to Sheridan Glacier and got a ride in a float plane. What an incredible visit. Come again!

Independence Day - July 4-6, 2014

Friday July 4th - It's a whole weekend of celebration!

 

Lincoln helped me put the finishing touches on a banana cream pie for the town potluck lunch.

 

Lincoln and Natalie Niles hold hands during the kids' races.  For this race, the kids had to run the short distance holding hands with a friend.  The older kids actually had their legs tied together, but this was safer.  Pretty fun!

 

 

Saturday, July 5th - we took the river boat down Eyak River and stopped at a sand bar to play.

Sunday, July 6th - we drove out to about 8 mile and set off fireworks with Grandpa and Grandma.  At 10 pm it was definitely not dark, so we didn't set off fountains or rockets.  We set off parachutes and sparklers.  Happy Independence Day!